Chain



A. 31, 1937. w; w. SAYERES m can!" Filed Jan. 5. 1935 2 Suzanna-Shout 1 ens gamma ff" flworraqgb' mm fifcmrdz'ze & 77 1 2 610 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 "UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE CHAIN William W. Sayers and Richard F.'Bergmann,

Chicago, Ill, and George W. Haaif, Indian apois, Ind., assiznors to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 5, 1935, Serial No. 480

4 Claims. (Cl. 74- 246) there is embodied a ball and socket within the chain joint which will permit within certain limits substantially universal movement and which willin particular permit bending movement laterally as well as axially of the chain.

Another object is to provide in connection with such a, ball and socket arrangement a construction by means of which the chain may be quickly coupled and uncoupled without the necessity of riveting or unriveting parts and without the necessity of other slow and cumbersome operations so that the chain may be coupled and uncoupled readily and with a minimum of delay in the operation of a conveyor or other apparatus in which the chain is associated. The chain, while it may be made of any suitable material, lends itself particularly to manufacture by casting and for many purposes this has an important advantage because cast metals tend to resist acids which are frequently present in associations where conveying chains of this general type are used.

- Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- 4

- Figure 1 is a plan view with parts in section in Figure 1;

Fi e 3 is a side elevation pin removed from the link;

Figure 4 is an end view of the pintle;

showing the pintle Figure 5 is a view generally similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form, each" link having a top cover;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the chain of Figure 5; Y Figure 7 is a view generally similar toFigure 1, illustrating a further modified form:

V Figure 8 is a side elevation of 'in Figure 7;

Figure-9 is a side elevation showing chain links in uncoupling position; I

' Figure 10 is a'viewgenerallysimilarto Figure 1, illustratin a further modified form;

, viewed inFlgure 1, is shown to be curved about Figure 11 is a side elevation of the chain shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the pintle in the form used in Figures 10 and 11.

Like parts are designated by like characters 5 throughout the'speciflcation and drawings.

The links in the form 'shown in Figures 1 and v2 comprise side bars A, A The bars A have preferably rounded perforations A and the bars A have perforations A ,-whicl1 are generally cir- 1 ocular as shown in Figure 2 particularly, but provided with an enlarged, more or less angular portion A The openings in both of the bars A, A might be the same in shape as that shown in the bar A namely, enlargedas at A so that the 1 pintle could be slipped into-place and removed from place through either of the side bars. Or-

dinarily, however, it is preferable to have the perforation in one-bar round and to permitinsertion and removal of the pintle through only one of the bars. The side bars A and A are inclined toward each other adjacent the opposite end of the link and merge into a unitary inner portion A through which a perforation A is formed. The perforation A is preferably provided with a generally semi-cylindrical portion A at its rear end. At'itsouter end, as viewed particularly in Figure 2,; it is provided with a generally vertical wall A, which, however, as

a. radius drawn transversely of the chain. The curved, generally vertical wall A -thus furnishes a rounded portion to co-operate'with the pintle Din.

' As shown in Figures 1 and 2' generally, and in detail in Figures 3 and 4, 'B is a pintle pin. It is generally cylindrical at itsendsas at'B B Intermediate its ends it is provided with a raised,

longitudinally extended portion B of generally non-circular or angular cross-section and having a. concave depression 13 in its upper surface; This depression 13 is preferably rounded and its curvature is. preferably substantially concentric with the curvature of the curved. wall A, so that together the two form a. bearingsurface and permit ready lateral bending of the chain links with respect to 'eachother. The perforation A A is of such size and shape as to. permit the pin and its raised portion B'-'. to pass-through it and into position in the 1ink,'but this entrance of the pin into the link can only be accomplished when two adjacent links are bent out of their normal working position and into the position shown in Figure 9. In that position the perforation A, A is properly in line with the perforation A to permit the entrance or exit of the pintle for coupling or uncoupling the chain links; In normal operation of the-chain the links do not get into this uncoupling position and hence un- 5 due lateral'displacement and accidental loss of the pintle is impossible.

The shape of the pintle pin and of the perforation A is such that the pintle is substantially held against rotation and the adjacent chain link which is pivoted upon it rotates about the rounded portions B of the pintle. vWhen the chain bends laterally, however, the pintle moves about the curved, generally vertical surface A.

In the forms of the other figures, the relativeco-operation between the pintle pin and the shape of the perforation within which it lies is generally the same. It is such as to permit the normal bending of the chain in its longitudinalv axis and such also as to permit the lateral bending of the chain, within limits, dependent on the size and shape of the parts.

As'shown in Figures 5 and 6 the chain links are generally the same as those shown in Figures 1 and 2, however, a smaller ball and socket joint 26 is provided. The perforation A has a curved end wall C, which, unlike the end wall A, in the form shown in Figure 2. doasnot comprise the entire end of the perforation A. It merges into two inclined parts C C To compensate for this change the pintle B, in the form used in Figures 5 and 6, while it is generally of the same form shown in Figure 3, is modified in size to correspond with the smaller size of the curved wall C.

Otherwise it is substantially the same as shown in Figure 3. On the upper part of each of the links shown in Figures 5 and 6 and formed preferabl integrally with the link is a cover plateC.

The combined shape of the curved portion B and the projection 18 of the pintle B is such that the pintle can be inserted and removed from the links only when two adjacent links are turned to approximately the position shown in Figure 9.

In the forms of the chain described above, the concave portion is on the pintle and the convex portion is on the inside of a perforation in the link, In the form of the invention shown in Figures '7 and 8, thisrelationship is reversed and a concave depression is formed in one wallof a perforation in the link while a convex projection is formed on the pintle pin. This form of the dev vice, however, in common with the forms described above,-provides for lateral as well as longitudinal bending of the chain and provides a chain joint in which a concave and a curve:

the chain. I

The link of Figures 7 and 8 comprises side ba'rs E, E A round perforation E is formed in the side bar E and a perforation E Eis formed in the side bar E As formed, this perforation comprises the out-of-round portion 1! which cooperates to lock the pintle in place to prevent its accidental loss or displacement as will be described below. The side bars E. E converge and 75 F I" and having intermediate its ends a convex member co-operate to permit lateral bending of projection F", which when the chain is assembled,

fits into the concave'depression E in the front wall of the perforation E. The curvature of the concave and the convex members just mentioned is preferably formed of generally the same radius so that they fit together and form a hearing about which the chain linksmay rock freely within the desired limits to permit lateral bending of the chain.

The link in the form shown in Figures 10 and 11 comprises side bars G, G which are joined to a central portion G. A top or cover portion G may extendacross between the side bars G and G The central portion G of each link is provided with a relatively flat perforation G which .may have its front and rear walls slightly rounded as at G. The side barsG and G are provided with vertically extending slots G G As will be seen particularly from Figure 13 the slots or perforations G extend vertically, that is to say, at right angles to the perforations G which extend generally horizontally. The upper and lower walls of the slots G may be rounded as at G", G". On the inner faces of the side bars G and G and in communication with the slots (3 are formed concave'depressions G which are preferably portions of spheres.-

The pintle in the form used in Figures 10 and 11 is shown in detail in Figure 12, and as there shown it comprises what might be called a disc H. In plan its outer ends or edges are rounded as at H H and it is provided with front and rear edges H, H which are straight in a direction crosswise of the link and are rounded to correspond. generally to the shape of the slots or perforations G. Thus when the pintles lie within the perforations or slots G, as shown particularly in Figure 10,

they areheld against rotation about an axis crosswise of the link but may rotate in a plane generally parallel to the main axis of the link to permit relative lateral swinging of adjacent chain links.

depressions G, the link whose arms are so engagednpon the pintle H may swingup and down in what may be called the normal bending movement of the chain, and by reason of the curved ends H of the pintle H, the links may also have limited relative lateral bending or swinging. Since the slots orperforations G are at right angles to the slots or perforations G adjacent chain links, must be s g to a position at right angles to each other to ring thetwo. slots G and the slot G into alignment. In that position the pintle H may be inserted. when the links are swung from this position the pintle can be neither I inserted nor removed andhence is properly held in the chain and permits the desired movement.

Where in the specification and claims the expression "pintle pin has been used. this language is taken as meaning any pintle, whether it would 4 normally be considered a pin or not, and specifically it includes the member I! as shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12. That niember is a flat bar with rounded edges and ends rather than a pin but it acts as a pintle. Hence it acts in the same manner as the pin-like pintles shown in the other figures. For purposes of convenience. therefore, the expression "pintle pin" has been used in many places, both-in the specification and claims, and when so used it is to be taken as meaning any pintle, whether it be a pin or not, and any member which serves to Join toaoansae gether adjacent chain links for relative movement with respect to each other is thus a pintle and comes within the meaning ofthe language used. I It will be realized that whereas we have herewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might 'be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the in'ventionand we wish, therefore, that the showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

In particular any of the forms of the chain shown might have a top plate or might be made without the top plate and the exact shape and 16 contour of the pintle pins of the several forms might'be altered. The invention is not limited to the particular proportions shown and the contour and curvature of the ball andsocket joints will depend largely upon the exact shape of the 20 links and the amount of lateral bending desired.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The assembly of the chain, whichever form is used, is approximately the same. It will be noticed that in each of the, various forms, each chain link has one perforation so shaped that the pintle may slide through it endwise when the two are in one relative position because the outline of the perforation is substantially the same as the end outline of .the pintle pin. In each form of the device the pintle pin carries a projection which makes its end outline out-of-round. This projection is so shaped that when the pintle is in the proper position with relation to the perforation in the inner portion of each link, the 5 pin can be inserted into that perforation, but by reason of the shape of the perforation and the,

pintle it does not rotate in that perforation, being either locked against rotation or so limited in the relative turning movement permitted that it has no effective rotation and hence the link which engages the rounded outer ends of the pintle rotates about these outer ends while the 5 pintle is infeffect, 'or very largely, held against rotation. Thus when the chain bends along its longitudinal axis as, for example, about a sprocket, the pins arev held against rotation with respect to the link which engages the projec- 50 tion on the pin.

When the chain is caused to bend'laterally,

the curved portion-of the projection of the pintle pin rotates about the co-operating curved portion of the interior of the perforation of the link 5 which engages it and so a limited lateral bending is permitted. The shape and extent of the 00-. operating curved portions on the pintle and on the interior of the link which engages it is calculated to permit the desired degree of lateral bending of the chain. For some uses this is very slight and for some it is substantial and the parts will be designed to permit the desired degree of movement. The movement just described occurs with all of the various forms of the invention illustrated, whether the concavity be on the pintle and the convexity on the interior of the perforation in the link or vice versa.

We claim:

1. A chain composed of links, each having a 7 generally central portion and separated side arms, a perforation in each central portion, an arcuate bearing portion extending into said pervforation and pin. connecting said links, said pins having substantially cylindrical ends, and an intermediately placed enlargement with an arcuate portion of substantially the same curvature as and complementary to said arcuate. bearing portion formed in the aforementioned perforation of said link.

2; A chain composed of links each having a generally central portion and separated side arms, a perforation in each central portion, an

- arcuate bearing portion extending into said perforation, and pins connecting said links, said pins having substantially cylindrical ends, an intermediately placed arcuate bearing of substantially the same curvature as and complementary to saidarcuate bearing portion formed in the aforementioned perforation of said link. I

3. A chain composed of links each having a generally central portion and separated side arms,-a perforation in each central portion, a

.convex arcuate bearing portion extending into said perforation, and pins connecting said links, f

saidpins having substantially cylindrical ends, an intermediately placed concave arcuate bearing of substantially the same curvature as and complementary to said arcuate bearing portion formed in the aforementioned perforation of said link.

4. A chain composed of links each having a generally central" portion and separated side arms, a perforation in each central portion, a concave arcuate bearing portion extending into said perforation, and pins connecting said links, said pins having substantially cylindrical ends, an intermediately placed convex arcuate bearing of substantially the same curvature as and complementary to said arcuate bearing portion formed in the aforementioned perforation of said link. 

